Manchester United host Southampton at Old Trafford in the Premier League tonight, with Ruben Amorim’s side looking to build on recent positive results.
For all the praise United have received after their draw against Liverpool and victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup, they remain in 15th in the table and need to pick up wins quickly if they are to climb towards the top half. This evening’s match presents the perfect chance to make a positive start, as they face a Southampton side who sit bottom of the table with just six points so far this season.
The Saints’ struggles have continued even since the arrival of new manager Ivan Juric, with one draw and three losses in the league since the Croatian’s arrival in mid-December. They in also in desperate need of points and will see this United team as vulnerable enough to beat.
Follow all the Premier League action from Old Trafford below:
‘Maguire’s efforts may have taken a toll’
“Ruben Amorim praised Harry Maguire for his wholehearted efforts against Arsenal but they may have taken a toll.
“Maguire drops out of the team four days later, with Leny Yoro starting instead against Southampton.
“With Diogo Dalot suspended, there was a question of who Amorim would use at wing-back.
“Amad Diallo appears to have provided the answer, with his return to the team presumably at right wing-back.
“United have lost their last three home league games and Southampton have not won away in the division this season so something has to give.”
Richard Jolly at Old Trafford16 January 2025 18:53
Man Utd vs Southampton
Just over an hour to go until kick off. The team news is out and Alejandro Garnacho starts for Man Utd.
Is that a sign Ruben Amorim wants the Argentine to remain at the club despite interest in the winger during the transfer window?
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:51
Southampton line-up versus Man Utd
Southampton XI: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Bree, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters; Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Aribo, Dibling; Kamaldeen
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:49
Manchester United line-up versus Southampton
Man Utd XI: Onana; Yoro, De Light, Martinez; Amad Diallo, Mainoo, Ugarte, Mazraoui; Garnacho, Hojlund, Fernandes
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:47
Man Utd must find consistency
Consistency in their performances is the goal for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.
The manager knows that his team performed wonderfully against Liverpool and Arsenal but hopes to see those types of performances more often.
“I’m always concerned because we didn’t have, during these games, the consistency in performance or results, so I’m always worried. It’s my job to be worried,” said Amorim,
“But we have to face Southampton in the same way that we faced Liverpool or Arsenal. That is the goal. Not more, not less. Understanding that they are different games and people expect us to win, and that changes things.
“When you have the pressure to win, that is the pressure that we want and sometimes it’s harder to cope with that pressure because against Arsenal and Liverpool, no one was expecting us to beat these teams.
“We have to be prepared for that pressure, we need that pressure to improve as a team, and we need to face the game in the right way.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:40
Garnacho still learning system
Alejandro Garnacho is still learning to play in Ruben Amorim’s preferred 3-4-3 system but the manager admits the Argentine is a real talent.
“That is clear, he has talent,” Amorim said, “He needs to learn to play a little bit in a different position. He needs to play better inside.
“He improved a lot in the recovering position, when he doesn’t have the ball, but, doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions, like he was in the past, because I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to make the final third.
“So he’s finding the best way to play in this system. He’s improving, during training.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:35
Juric on Swansea win
Southampton’s last outing was a 3-0 victory over Swansea in the FA Cup and the manager knows tonight’s match will be different.
“We did some things well [against Swansea], but we know it will be a different game against Swansea than against Manchester United,” Ivan Juric said.
“We are preparing well. The guys are a little bit more confident after the Swansea game, we will see.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:30
Juric on facing Man Utd
Ivan Juric spoke about the prospect of facing Man Utd tonight and what he thinks of their indifferent form since Ruben Amorim took over.
Juric said: “Manchester United have changed the manager, they’ve changed their style of play. They play 3-4-3 like [Ruben] Amorim did at Sporting [Lisbon].
“They are trying to find the right way. They’ve played some good games, some bad games, it’s normal when you change the style of football.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:25
Ruben Amorim confident that Alejandro Garnacho can have bright Man Utd future
Ruben Amorim has said it is “clear” Alejandro Garnacho can have a bright future at Manchester United despite reports linking him with a move away this month.
Sunday’s FA Cup match at Arsenal, which United went on to win in a penalty shoot-out, was the first time Garnacho had made Amorim’s starting XI since the 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on December 7.
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:20
Juric hopeful of Downes return
Southampton boss Iva Juric is hopeful that Flynn Downes will be able to feature against Manchester United tonight.
Speaking ahead of the game he said: “Flynn Downes did his first training yesterday.
“He is ok. We will see if he can play from the beginning or later, but it is ok.
“I think everybody is fit, everybody is ok.”
Mike Jones16 January 2025 18:15
